Displaying a graphical representation of information

ABSTRACT

A display device for displaying a graphical representation of information includes a first interface for receiving the information via a first transmission path and a second interface for receiving the information via a second transmission path. The display device is designed to provide a first part of a complete display of the graphical representation using the information received by the first interface in a first color and to provide a second part of the complete display of the graphical representation using the information received by the second interface in a second color. The graphical representation is displayed in a complete color to a viewer, with the complete color being formed by adding the first and second colors to one another.

The invention relates to a display device for displaying a graphicalrepresentation of information.

Display devices for displaying a graphical representation are knowngenerally. Display devices include for example liquid crystal displays(LCD), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), head-up displays (HUD),etc.

WO 2013/045478 A1 describes a locomotive cab having a front view displayfor displaying information that is relevant to the rail vehicle in thefield of view of the train operator, the front pane of the rail vehiclebeing a projection surface of the front view display. In this case, animaging unit receives two information items of the same type fromdifferent systems. The imaging unit emits optical signals of variouscolors on the basis of the information from the different systems. Anoptical module of the front pane display contains two mirror systemswhich are oriented in such a way that the optical signals associatedwith the different information items strike the projection surface inthe same place.

In this context, the object of the invention is to specify an improveddisplay device for displaying a graphical representation of information,in particular safety-relevant information.

The object is achieved by the display device for displaying thegraphical representation of the information. The display devicecomprises a first interface for receiving the information via a firsttransmission path and a second interface for receiving the informationvia a second transmission path. The display device is designed toprovide a first part of a complete display of the graphicalrepresentation in a first color using the information received by thefirst interface, and to provide a second part of the complete display ofthe graphical representation in a second color using the informationreceived by the second interface. The display device is further designedto display the graphical representation for a viewer in a complete colorwhich is formed by adding the first and second color together.

The invention is based on the knowledge that it is desirable to havetrustworthy and secure displays which also offer a high degree offlexibility. For example, it is desirable to have a secure display whichcan be included or hidden by the user at any time without safety-relatedrestrictions.

The invention also makes it known that existing secure displays arecharacterized by elaborate process safeguards. In this case, it isensured by means of various communication steps with the informationsource that the information represented by the display system iscorrect.

The inventive solution eliminates these problems by providing theinformation in the form of at least two independent parts, each of arespective partial color, wherein only the combined complete displayrepresents the information in the complete color. This complete color isformed by adding the partial colors together. If one of the two parts ofthe complete display of the graphical representation is not provided oris provided incorrectly, the viewer is able clearly and easily toidentify, on the basis of the color of the representation displayed,that the information is erroneously represented and that little trustcan be placed in the display.

The inventive solution also allows the display device to be operated ata higher safety level, it being possible to use components of thedisplay device which do not themselves achieve this safety level. Thisis because the trustworthiness of the display can immediately bedetermined by the viewer when viewing the display.

The wording “graphical representation of the information” is primarilyunderstood by a person skilled in the art to mean that the informationwhen displayed is represented in a form that is perceptible to a viewer.For example, a number can be graphically represented as information inthe form of a seven-segment display. Equally, the term “graphicalrepresentation” can also include the display of a signal lamp, in whichthe information is graphically represented by the display of a color.

The first transmission path and second transmission path can take theform of two independent communication cables or two independentcommunication telegrams.

The first part and second part provided preferably form two layers ofthe complete display when they are added together. The layers arepreferably layers of processed data, said layers being combined by meansof addition in the context of data processing.

The provision of the first part comprises for example writing the firstpart into a memory. The addition takes place for example by adding thesecond part to the first part in said memory. Alternatively, the secondpart is written into a second memory, wherein the addition of the firstpart and the second part is written into a third memory.

The addition is preferably an addition in the context of dataprocessing, which results in an additive mixing of colors. For example,this is achieved by mixing RGB colors (RGB: red green blue) as processeddata, whereby the RGB color values of the first and second part areadded together. Other ways of mixing colors likewise fall within thescope of the inventive idea.

By way of example, a possible RGB color mixture is described below forthe complete color yellow. The colors are characterized by their RGBparts (r, g, b) in this case. The complete color yellow as a targetcolor can thus be characterized by yellow=(100%, 100%, 0). For example,the first part can be characterized by olive green=(50%, 50%, 0) and thesecond part correspondingly characterized by olive green=(50%, 50%, 0).The addition of the first part and second part produces the target coloryellow. A further example for the colors of the first and second partcould be the colors red=(100%, 0, 0) and green=(0, 100%, 0), whichproduce the color yellow when mixed.

Although two parts, two interfaces, etc. are described here and in thefollowing, the invention of a display device having more than two parts,more than two interfaces, etc. falls within the scope of the inventiveidea.

The first color and second color are preferably selected such that theyonly form the complete color through addition or superimposition whenthe displays of the first and second part are related. For example, adynamic display is conceivable in which, when correctly displayed, thecomplete color is the color yellow=(100%, 100%, 0) in a first timeinterval and the color cyan=(0, 100%, 100%) in a second time interval.In this case, as described above, the color yellow is composed forexample of the color olive green=(50%, 50%, 0) which is provided as afirst part and the color olive green which is provided as a second partcorrespondingly. The color cyan=(0, 100%, 100%) is composed for exampleof the color teal=(0, 50%, 50%) which is provided as a first part andthe color teal=(0, 50%, 50%) which is provided as a second partcorrespondingly. In other words: in the first time interval, the firstpart, which has the color olive green, and the second part, which hasthe color olive green, represent related displays. In the second timeinterval, the first part, which has the color teal, and the second part,which has the color teal, represent related displays. For example, ifthe graphical representation is provided in the color olive green=(50%,50%, 0) by the first part and in the color teal=(0, 50%, 50%) by thesecond part, these would add to give a complete display in the color(50%, 100%, 50%). As a result of this complete color, the viewerimmediately perceives that an erroneous display is present.

The idea that the overflow is ignored when adding color values whichwould give a result greater than 100% (for example 75%+75% then make 25%instead of 125%) forms part of the inventive idea.

In a preferred embodiment variant of the inventive display device, thecomplete color is a color which indicates a validity of the information.The first color and second color are both error colors which indicatethat the information is erroneous. The intuitive perception of anerroneous display by the viewer is further increased as a result of thisembodiment.

A further preferred embodiment variant of the inventive display deviceis designed to display the graphical representation in the completecolor with a background in a background color. The first part has amarking in a first background color in a partial region of thebackground, and the second part has the marking in a second backgroundcolor in the same partial region of the background. In this way, thefirst background color and the second background color when correctlydisplayed form the background color of the complete display by means ofaddition. This embodiment variant has the advantage that an erroneousdisplay can be perceived by the viewer with particular ease andintuitively as a result of the marking. When the information isrepresented correctly, the first background color and the secondbackground color are added together to form the background color of thecomplete display and the marking is no longer perceptible to the viewer.Therefore the viewer has no reason to assume an erroneous display.

According to a further preferred embodiment variant of the inventivedisplay device, the information is safety-relevant information whichrelates to the safety of a rail-guided vehicle. This represents aparticularly appropriate use case for the inventive display device. Inrail-guided vehicles in particular, the correct representation ofsafety-relevant information is important for the safety of thepassengers and the environment of the vehicle.

The person skilled in the art primarily understands the term“safety-relevant” as relevant for the safety of the rail-guided vehicle.

The information is preferably provided from a single secure informationsource.

The invention further relates to a display system for displaying agraphical representation of information. The display system comprises aninformation source which provides information, a first transmissionpath, this being designed to transmit the information to a firstinterface of a display device, and a second transmission path, thisbeing designed to transmit the information to a second interface of thedisplay device.

The display device is designed to provide a first part of a completedisplay of the graphical representation in a first color using theinformation received by the first interface, and to provide a secondpart of the complete display of the graphical representation in a secondcolor using the information received by the second interface. Thedisplay device is further designed to display the graphicalrepresentation for a viewer in a complete color which is formed byadding the first and second color together.

The invention further relates to a rail-guided vehicle having a displaysystem of the type described above. The rail-guided vehicle ispreferably a rail vehicle, in particular a railcar.

The invention further relates to a method for displaying a graphicalrepresentation of information, comprising: receiving the information bymeans of a first interface via a first transmission path, receiving theinformation by means of a second interface via a second transmissionpath, providing a first part of a complete display of the graphicalrepresentation in a first color using the information received by thefirst interface, and providing a second part of a complete display ofthe graphical representation in a second color using the informationreceived by the second interface. The graphical representation isdisplayed for a viewer in a complete color which is formed by adding thefirst and second color together.

The information is preferably provided by a single information source.The information is moreover preferably sent from the information sourcevia the first transmission path to the first interface and via thesecond transmission path to the second interface.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained with reference tothe drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of an inventive display system,

FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of an inventive rail-guidedvehicle, and

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of an inventive display of agraphical representation.

FIG. 1 shows a display system 1 having a display device 3. The displaysystem 1 comprises an information source 5, which provides informationto be represented. The information is transmitted via two independenttransmission paths 7 and 9 to respective interfaces 11 and 13 of thedisplay device 3.

The information received by the first interface 11 is processed by meansof a first display control unit 15 in such a way that a first part 19 ofa complete display 27 of a graphical representation 14 of theinformation is provided in a first color 17. The information received bythe second interface 13 is processed by means of a second displaycontrol unit 21 in such a way that a second part 25 of the completedisplay 27 of the graphical representation of the information isprovided in a second color 23. By way of example, the bottom of FIG. 1shows a plan view (i.e. a view in the viewing direction 29 of a viewer31) of the first part 19 (bottom center), the second part 25 (bottomleft) and the complete display 27 (bottom right).

The first part 19 and second part 25 form the complete display 27 afterthey are added together. In other words: as a result of mixing the firstcolor 17 and the second color 23, the complete display 27 of thegraphical representation 14 displays the information in a complete color24. The addition is represented schematically in FIG. 1 as a plus signin the circle. This can be understood as an addition in the context ofdata processing, and results in colors being mixed additively. Forexample, this is achieved by mixing RGB colors from an informationtechnology perspective, whereby the RGB color values of the first andsecond part are added together.

In preparation for the addition, the first part 19 provided can bewritten into a memory. The second part 25 is added to the first part 19in this memory and then displayed. Alternatively, the second part 25 iswritten into a second memory, the addition of the first part 19 and thesecond part 25 being written into a third memory. The contents of thethird memory are displayed as a complete display 27 by means of thedisplay device 3.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of an inventive rail-guided vehicle33 in which is installed an inventive display device 3 of the typedescribed above. In this case, identical and functionally identicalelements are denoted by the same reference characters as in FIG. 1 .

The information source 5 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 isa central control unit 35, which provides a braked weight percentage asinformation. The braked weight percentage is an example of informationwhich relates to the safety of the rail-guided vehicle 33. Theinformation is transmitted to the display device 3 via two independenttransmission paths 7 and 9, for example two independent communicationcables 37 and 39 or two independent communication telegrams. Theindependent communication telegrams can be transmitted via a vehiclebus.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a display of the display deviceshown in FIG. 1 . Identical or functionally identical elements aredenoted by the same reference characters.

In particular, FIG. 3 shows the plan view of the first part 19 (topright), the plan view of the second part 25 (top left), and the planview of the complete display 27 (bottom center) in a viewing direction29.

The graphical representation 14 of the information is provided in thefirst color 17 for the first part 19 and in the second color 23 for thesecond part 25. These colors 17 and 23 are added together orsuperimposed to form the complete color 24.

The complete display 27 shows a background of the graphicalrepresentation 14 in a background color 110. The background color 110 isproduced for the viewer 31 by adding a background color 112 of the firstpart 19 to a further background color 114 of the second part 25.

At the same time, the first part 19 has a marking 122 in the backgroundcolor 114 in a star-shaped partial region 118 and the second part 25 hasthe marking 122 in the background color 112 in the same partial region118. The background colors 112 and 114 are superimposed (as a result ofaddition) in the partial region 118 to give the background color 110 ofthe complete display 27.

This means that the viewer 31 perceives an erroneous display in aparticularly simple and intuitive manner as a result of the marking.When the display is represented correctly, the background colors 112 and114 are superimposed to form the background color 110 and the marking isno longer perceptible to the viewer. Therefore the viewer has no reasonto assume an erroneous display.

Although the invention is illustrated and described in detail withreference to the preferred exemplary embodiment, the invention is notrestricted by the examples disclosed herein, and other variations may bederived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without therebydeparting from the scope of the invention.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A display device for displaying a graphicalrepresentation of information, the display device comprising: a firstinterface for receiving the information via a first transmission path; asecond interface for receiving the information via a second transmissionpath; the display device being configured: to provide a first part of acomplete display of the graphical representation in a first color usingthe information received by said first interface; to provide a secondpart of the complete display of the graphical representation in a secondcolor using the information received by said second interface; and todisplay the graphical representation for a viewer in a complete colorwhich is formed by adding the first and second colors to one another. 9.The display device according to claim 8, wherein: the complete color isa color which indicates a validity of the information; and each of thefirst and second colors are error colors which indicate that theinformation is erroneous.
 10. The display device according to claim 8,wherein: the display device is configured to display the graphicalrepresentation in the complete color with a background in a backgroundcolor, the first part has a marking in a first background color in agiven partial region of the background, and the second part has themarking in a second background color in the given partial region of thebackground; and the first background color and the second backgroundcolor, when correctly displayed, form the background color of thecomplete display by addition of the first and second background colors.11. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the information issafety-relevant information relating to the safety of a rail-guidedvehicle.
 12. A display system for displaying a graphical representationof information, the display system comprising: an information source forproviding information; a first transmission path, which is configured totransmit the information to a first interface of a display device; asecond transmission path, which is configured to transmit theinformation to a second interface of the display device; and wherein thedisplay device is configured: to provide a first part of a completedisplay of the graphical representation in a first color using theinformation received by the first interface; to provide a second part ofthe complete display of the graphical representation in a second colorusing the information received by the second interface; and to displaythe graphical representation for a viewer in a complete color which isformed by adding the first and second colors to one another.
 13. Arail-guided vehicle, comprising a display system according to claim 12.14. A method for displaying a graphical representation of information,the method comprising: receiving the information by a first interface byway of a first transmission path; receiving the information by a secondinterface by way of a second transmission path; providing a first partof a complete display of the graphical representation in a first colorusing the information received by the first interface; providing asecond part of a complete display of the graphical representation in asecond color using the information received by the second interface; anddisplaying the graphical representation for a viewer in a complete colorwhich is formed by adding the first and second colors to one another.